Institute for Applied Materials

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Welcome to the Insitute for Applied Materials group website. The Institute of Applied Materials is an interdisciplinary materials research group at the University of Pretoria associated with the Departments of Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

Research focus areas in the Institute of Applied Materials Carbon materials

   * Nuclear-grade carbon for pebble-bed reactor

Inorganics

   * Nano-clay polymer additives
   * Dry processing of ceramic composite boards
   * Zirconium chemicals from zircon sand
   * "Green" Pyrotechnic Time-Delay Compositions
   * Pigments for glazes

Polymers

   * Starch-based plastic compounds
   * Fast-release solid pesticide formulations
   * Gassing of emulsion explosives
   * Polymer additives including photodegradants for polyethylene, intumescent flame retardants and volatile corrosion inhibitors for plastics packaging.

Fluoro-Materials Group

   * Fluoropolymers
   * Dry fluorination
   * Fluorine production
   * HF-based minerals processing

Research Projects in the Institute of Applied Materials

   * Carbon materials (Eskom PBMR, Suprachem)
   * Inorganics and ceramics (African Explosives, Kumba Resources)
   * Polymers (African Products, Xyris technology)

Research sponsorships

Industrial with support from NRF through the THRIP-programme.

Research facilities available at UP

   * Laboratory for microscopy and micro-analysis (SEM, TEM, EDS)
   * Raman and infrared facility (FTIR, Raman scpectroscopy)
   * Thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, BET Surface Area)
   * Committee for XRD and XRF (XRD, XRF)
   * XPS facility (XPS)
   * NMR spectroscopy (NMR)